Colts @ Titans
Final Score: Colts 31, Titans 28 (OT)
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan on Twitter)
The Tennessee Titans were deep in their bag on Sunday, finding new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A cavalcade of errors and bone-headed plays from the Titans allowed the Indianapolis Colts to escape Nashville with a division win. Let’s see, now: there was a blocked punt touchdown, another blocked punt, a missed go-ahead extra point in the fourth quarter, and a couple of blown coverages in overtime that allowed the Colts to walk away with the win.
Let’s dig in.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew: 26/42, 312 Yards, 2 TDs | 3 Carries, 2 Yards
Forcing Gardner Minshew to throw the ball 42 times should never be a blueprint for winning an NFL football game, but here we are…for the second-straight week, believe it or not. Against one of the biggest pass-funnel defenses in the NFL, Minshew tossed it around the yard, carrying not one but TWO 100-yard receivers as he slung it for 300+ passing yards for just the third time this season. Minshew also managed to take care of the football; for just the second time in his last seven starts, he went without an interception. Well, sort of: Minshew was picked on a two-point conversion and the Titans returned it for two points of their own.
Minshew has never lacked for confidence, and in his second-consecutive favorable matchup, he took advantage with one of his best games of the season. He’s now quarterbacked his team to four-straight victories, placing the Colts (7-5) in position for the seventh and final AFC playoff spot with five games to play. Of course, Anthony Richardson is the future of this franchise, but Minshew sure looks a hell of a lot better than Carson Wentz.
Running Back
Zack Moss: 19 Carries, 51 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Much to the chagrin of daily fantasy players everywhere, Moss was largely ineffective. The good news is that he was on the field for all but four offensive snaps, dominating the Colts’ running back chances with Jonathan Taylor sidelined with a thumb injury. Moss might have let people down on Sunday with a lack of production, but his involvement is certainly a very good sign for managers heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Trey Sermon: 1 Target
Tyler Goodson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Pittman Jr.: 16 Targets, 11 Receptions, 105 Yards, TD
Alpha. Wide. Receiver.
Micheal Pittman was targeted a season-high 16 times, tying his career-best. He pulled in 11 catches for 105 yards including the game-winning score in overtime as Minshew found him in the back of the end zone for the walk-off winner. Garnering a target share near 40 percent, Pittman has amassed 41 targets and 29 receptions over his last three games. With one of the weakest remaining schedules in the league (at Bengals, vs. Steelers, at Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans), Pittman should continue to feast down the stretch.
MICHAEL PITTMAN JR. WINS IT FOR THE COLTS (-1.5) ✅pic.twitter.com/IpKTGHHKvb
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 3, 2023
Alec Pierce: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 100 Yards, TD
It was about time that Pierce got involved in this offense; having spent the majority of time on the field the past few weeks, he managed five catches for 48 yards over his last three games combined. Pierce finally pulled in a few passes and went for 100 yards receiving for the first time in his career. Used as a deep threat to stretch the field vertically for Pittman and the tight ends, Pierce got loose a couple of times against a leaky Titans secondary, including this 36-yard touchdown.
ALEC PIERCE 36 YARD TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/ZQeWqODdyv
— Colts Militia (@coltsmilitia_) December 3, 2023
Kylen Granson: 1 Carry, 2 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 72 Yards
The leader of the tight end brigade, Granson pulled in all three of his targets for 72 yards and converted a first down on a jet sweep (more like a freightliner sweep) for a couple of yards on the ground. Granson was useful in his chances but was only on the field for 24 offensive snaps. The yardage and usage probably aren’t sustainable.
Josh Downs: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 14 Yards
Another disappointing outing for Downs in what was a solid matchup for the slot receiver. For whatever reason, Downs can’t seem to get involved enough to matter despite being more talented than his linemate Pierce. Downs was on the field for more than two-thirds of the offensive snaps but managed just three catches for short yardage on five targets. It would be nice to see Downs used on some intermediate and deep routes out of the slot moving forward.
Will Mallory: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 4 Yards
Drew Ogletree: 1 Target
These two, along with Mo-Alie Cox and Granson, split snaps almost evenly. None of the Indianapolis tight ends are fantasy relevant because there’s just so darn many of them. For the two or three readers who have seen the indie animated film The Thief and the Cobbler, the Indianapolis Colts’ tight end room reminds me of the Brigands. Big, scary-looking, but mostly useless.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Will Levis: 16/33, 224 Yards, TD | 2 carries, 5 yards, 3 fumbles (1 lost)
Will Levis wasn’t terrible despite completing less than half of his passes. He was pressured constantly as his offensive line struggled to hold against the Colts’ pass rush, yet still managed to throw for a score and somehow managed to not get intercepted. He even recovered his own fumble on one of the wildest plays we’ve ever seen (it was way more exciting in real time when we thought he FORCED the fumble, recovered it and ran it in for a score, but I digress…).
WILD PLAY IN NASHVILLE
Will Levis throws a pick, forces a fumble, then runs it in for the touchdown
Probably won’t stand but whoa pic.twitter.com/HOScaAdwFg
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) December 3, 2023
Despite the constant pressure, Levis stood tall in the pocket and did enough to give the Titans every chance they needed to win the game. Some of his decision-making could be questioned, but overall, this loss was not on the rookie.
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 21 Carries, 102 Yards, 2 TDs | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 18 Yards
King Henry was amazing again. Like an avocado, Henry just gets better as the season goes on (just don’t leave him out too long). Henry punched in a pair of scores and eclipsed 100 rushing yards for just the third time this season. Henry continues to deliver solid rushing lines when the Titans enter into close games or positive game scripts.
Henry took a HUGE shot in the second half, walked off the field under his own power, and was escorted to the locker room. Based on the hit and post-game reports, it’s possible that he may be in concussion protocol moving forward.
Derrick Henry #titans
Here’s the play he got injured on. Was walking off on his own power. Will wait for more details pic.twitter.com/9ETPG7skPa
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) December 3, 2023
Tyjae Spears: 16 Carries, 75 Yards | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 13 Yards
After Henry left the game, Spears took over lead back duties and looked darn good doing it. With burst plays of 10 yards and 19 yards late in the game, Spears proved that if Henry misses next week he is a must-start for fantasy managers, especially in a game that the Titans project to lose (at Miami). Spears has been heavily involved in negative game scripts and with how poorly the Titans have played this year there should be plenty of those over the next few weeks.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DeAndre Hopkins: 12 Targets, 5 Receptions, 75 Yards, TD
Hopkins was a clear primary option for Levis, but several of his intended targets were uncatchable as the rookie was under fire from the Colts’ front four nearly all game. Hopkins did pull in a touchdown pass on an in-breaking route in the back of the end zone (very similar to the Pittman touchdown play) to boost his fantasy production. With Levis under center, at least Hopkins has a ceiling, but his floor is still pretty low moving forward.
Deandre Hopkins and the Titans team paying homage to Kyler Murray ❤️
— Joanna Cards Fan (@cardsfanjoanna) December 3, 2023
Chigoziem Okonkwo: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 62 Yards
Okonkwo led the Titans’ tight end corps with 51 offensive snaps, just over 60 percent. He saw six targets, second on the team, and pulled in three catches for 62 yards. The Titans continue to try and get their athletic end involved in different ways, but it hasn’t yielded much in terms of fantasy goodness just yet.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 28 Yards
Westbrook-Ikhine led the Titans pass catchers in snaps with 69 out of 85 on the field. He was targeted just twice for one catch. He’s just not relevant for fantasy purposes.
Josh Whyle: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards
Chris Moore: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Trevon Wesco: 1 target
Josh Whyle and Trevon Wesco shared snaps as the backup tight ends, while Kevin Rader also was involved for some run-blocking duties. Notably, Treylon Burks was back after a prolonged injury absence, but was on the field for just 10 snaps and was not targeted at all in this game; the former first-round pick is being worked back slowly. He could remain behind Chris Moore (who has been mildly productive in Burks’ absence) on the depth chart in the coming weeks if we don’t see improvement.